Members of our Trust are regularly provided with the opportunity to influence the way in which services are run and how they are delivered in the future. Click on the link below to see details of current member consultations:
Member consultation - appointment reminders
We continuously strive to provide safe, effective and well-organised care. We are currently running a member consultation to find out your views regarding the use of electronic communication for patient appointments.
Missed appointments cost the NHS millions of pounds every year. We would like to explore the possibility of using text messaging or email to contact patients, for example to remind them of forthcoming appointments. This may help patients who forget their appointments and also make it easier for patients to cancel or rearrange appointments thus enabling slots to be reallocated to other patients.
The first step in this process is to discover what proportion of patients would welcome electronic communication by text message or email. We would be grateful if you could spare five minutes and complete this short survey.
Members have until Saturday 9 July to complete the online survey. As always we will be sure to keep you informed of progress via TRUSTMatters magazine.
Some examples of how our Foundation Trust members have previously been involved with the work of the Trust can be seen below:
Maternity Services Research Event
Members with an interest in women’s health attended an event led by Dr Tracey Cooper, Consultant Midwife at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals and Professor Soo Downe from the University of Central Lancashire, the event provided an opportunity for members to give feedback about some new research ideas, based on their experiences of maternity services
Dr Tracy Cooper said: ”The research team gained valuable insight and feedback from the members who attended. The people who came along to the event have asked to stay involved with the research projects as they develop so we are delighted that we will continue to have member input".
Outpatient Listening Event
Over 100 members attended an event to provide views about how we can improve communication with patients before and after outpatient appointments.
As a result of your feedback we are implementing a new process to ensure any changes to your appointments are communicated more clearly and promptly. We will also be introducing new ways of keeping in touch with you such as text messaging which you said would be more convenient. And we are piloting a new service to call you to remind you of your orthopaedic appointment which, if successful, will be rolled out across all of our services.
Imaging Focus Group
Patients of the Diagnostic Imaging Departent (which provides x-rays and a range of scans) attended an event to identify how the service could be improved.
As a result of patients feedback, we are talking to our Information Governance team about how to ensure all patient information is up to date, and have introduced a reception checklist that prompts staff to confirm your personal details, GP information and that your casenotes are available. You said that complex examinations are not explained to you properly so we have briefed our staff that procedures should be clearly communicated to you before your treatment begins.
You also said that the MR scanner can make you feed claustrophobic - eyemasks are available but we found that not all staff offered them to patients so we have reminded everyone that all patients should be offered this option.
We have also introduced a daily check on patient examination gowns to ensure the range of sizes and styles required are available to ensure you're comfortable during your visit. And you said the environment was drab and unwelcoming so we're talking to local schools about provided some vibrant artwork to brighten up the department.
Sleep Research Project
The project, run by the Trust Research Department enabled a number of level three members with the opportunity to become involved with the development of a research bid into establishing new methods of improving sleep amongst hospital inpatients. Members have assisted in the preparation of the funding application and if the application is successful members will continue to sit on the steering group as patient advisors.
Catering Forum
Level two and three members with an interest in the hospital environment participated in a catering held to establish feedback about the Trusts catering services, blue tray initiative, protected mealtimes and the bell system. Members were also given the opportunity to sample and score patient meals. Feedback has been used to help update the Trusts inpatient menus and roll out menu changes at Café Maison and Royal Preston Hospital.
Domestic Services and Environment Focus Group
A selection of level three Foundation Trust members with an interest in the hospital environment were invited to attend a focus group led by the Hotel Services department to review the provision of catering at the Trust. Members were shown how a ward is designed and implemented from a drawing board through to a real life working ward. Foundation Trust members also gave their views on privacy and dignity, equality and diversity and infection control in the ward environment.
Consultation regarding Chorley and South Ribble Hospital Education Centre expansion
A member consultation took place regarding the design of the planned extension to the Education Centre at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital. Level three members who had expressed an interest in the hospital environment were invited to attend a presentation delivered by the Director of Facilities and Services outlining the proposed redevelopment plans.
Members were asked to identify any areas for improvement relating to the plans in order to enable the expansion to meet the need of the public. Member feedback was incorporated into the expansion plans and helped to assist in the selection of a contractor to undertake the building work.
Patients as Educators
The Patients as Educators scheme is an ongoing piece of work coordinated by the Trust Undergraduate Education department. The scheme aims to improve doctors training by enabling patients to inform doctors what it is like to live with and experience specific long term medical conditions.
Over 500 randomly selected level two and three patient members with an interest in General Medicine were invited to become ‘Patient Educators.’
If you are an existing Foundation Trust Member and would like to change your level of involvement or area of interest then please call the Membership Office freephone enquiry line on 0800 073 0663 or alternatively email foundation.trust@lthtr.nhs.uk
Members frequently contribute to service developments as seen on our you said, we did page.
